As if the citizen's protests at the National Assembly on Monday, February 9 led by former presidential candidate, Peter Obi has paid off, the Nigerian Senate has ordered an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
In a notice signed by Clerk of the Senate Emmanuel Odo, lawmakers were directed to gather at the National Assembly complex at 12:00 noon.
“I am directed by His Excellency, the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, to inform all Distinguished Senators… that an Emergency Sitting of the Senate has been scheduled,” the memo read.
Odo requested that all senators be in attendance, adding: “All inconveniences this will cause to Distinguished Senators are highly regretted, please.”
No official reason was given for the emergency sitting.
However, the development comes after heated debates on the electronic transmission of election results and the protests this morning.
The Electoral Act amendment bill recently passed its third reading, retaining provisions for electronic transfer of results as contained in the 2022 Act, but several senators say what was passed was at variance with what the chamber members agreed to.
Officially the Senate rejected proposals for real-time transmission and a 10-year ban on vote-buyers, opting instead for existing sanctions of jail terms and fines.
Senators Clarify Position
The decision has drawn criticism, but some senators insist the bill enjoyed broad support.
Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central told Channels Television: “Over 85 per cent of senators agreed to electronic transmission. It was common ground. Even the ad hoc committee of the Senate agreed to it.”
He explained that the only modification was the removal of the phrase “in real time” due to concerns about network challenges in some areas.
Umeh said confusion arose when a motion was reportedly moved to replace the word “transmission” with “transfer” without debate.
“It was only ‘real time’ that was expunged because of network issues. Transmission itself was never in dispute,” he added.
The emergency plenary is expected to address lingering controversies surrounding the Electoral Act amendment.
Lawmakers will likely face pressure to clarify their stance on electronic transmission and reassure Nigerians about the integrity of future elections.
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